Baca Cites Negative Political Climate for Departure

LOS ANGELES—Sheriff Lee Baca, whose department is being investigated for alleged violence and corruption at the county's jails, said Tuesday that he would retire at the end of the month because of the negative political climate surrounding the re-election campaign he would have faced this year.

Mr. Baca's announcement came just weeks after 18 current and former deputies in his department were indicted on federal criminal charges,...